Congress has given a reprieveto Title IV of SMCRA (thelaw that funds the reclamation of abandoned mine lands through the collection of a fee on each ton of coal mined in the U.S.). It is alive through a just-passed continuing resolution that keeps the federal government goingthrough December 3rd. It is alsoincluded in a $388 billion omnibus appropriations bill that will enable it through June 30, 2005, which Congress is expected to pass very soon.

New legislation is expected to be introduced into Congress in 2005 that will keep adequate funding coming for a long enough time to address our most pressing health, safety, and reclamation problems. This is vital issue for Pennsylvania, the most impacted of all states by over a hundred years of unregulated coal mining. (contributed by Bruce Golden, Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation.)

11/26/2004